[Interview] Seokang Seok, Songpa District Mayor: "I Will Help Young Artists' Passion Bloom in Songpa"

60% of Artists in Songpa-gu Are Young Artists...Focused on Supporting Young Artists Since Last Year, Providing Stages and Creative Spaces...Solo Concert 'The Impact', Young Artist Center Offer Opportunities Throughout the Year

Recently, young artists have been gathering in Songpa-gu. This is because various supports for young artists are being intensively provided in Songpa-gu, including stages to showcase their long-cultivated talents and creative spaces where they can fully concentrate on their work.

Since the 8th term of the civilian administration began, Songpa-gu has been focusing its administrative efforts on the cultural and artistic fields to expand the base of local culture and arts and enhance urban competitiveness. Among these efforts, special attention is being paid to supporting and nurturing young artists.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “Culture and arts play an important role in raising the brand of a nation beyond just a city and can even contribute to economic development. Therefore, the administration must support young artists, who are at the starting point as professional artists, so that they can create their own achievements.”

Currently, more than half of the artists active in Songpa-gu are young artists. As of April 3, according to the status of artistic activity certification by the Korea Artists Welfare Foundation, among 3,190 active artists in Songpa-gu, 1,845 are in their 20s and 30s, accounting for 57%. However, the reality is that there are not enough stages for them to perform freely.

In response, since last year, the district has been focusing on supporting stages and creative spaces for young artists through various projects.

First, stages for young artists continue throughout the year. At the small theater ‘Seokchonhosu Atelier’ located at the west lake of Seokchon Lake, young stages by Eastern and Western musicians are held from April to December. This project, called the ‘Young Artists Solo Concert “The Impact”’, allows young musicians active nationwide to plan their own concerts that highlight their individuality, offering audiences a special experience. Seventeen musicians participated in the first year, and this year, the number has slightly increased to 20. The performances cover a wide range from rarely encountered Eastern music such as piri, pansori, and jeongga to familiar Western music like piano, vocal music, and violin, receiving positive responses.

This spring, various stages were also prepared in connection with Songpa-gu’s representative festival, the ‘Lake Cherry Blossom Festival.’ During the festival, busking performances took place throughout Seokchon Lake, and the ‘Cherry Blossom Ending Concert,’ planned to coincide with the falling cherry blossoms, allowed young artists who had been longing for stages to showcase their skills to spring visitors from across the country. At the ‘Cultural Experiment Space Hosu’ located on the west side walking trail of the lake, an invitational exhibition titled ‘Spring Scent’ by young artists from Songpa-gu was held in time with the cherry blossom bloom, gifting visitors with bright spring through artworks.

In addition, in autumn, the young artists’ festival ‘Yaho Festival,’ along with local festivals and congratulatory performances at district office events, are returned to young artists, helping them continue their activities in the region without giving up.

Last year, a creative space for young artists was also established. It is the ‘Songpa Young Artist Center,’ utilizing a building in Pungnap-dong where cultural heritage compensation has been completed. The district obtained free use approval for this old building owned by Seoul City until 2026 and transformed it into a splendid creative space. With a total floor area of about 390㎡ and spanning from basement level 1 to the 5th floor, it includes exhibition rooms, workspaces, rest areas, and program rooms. Currently, seven teams of young visual artists selected through a public contest reside there, dedicating themselves to their artistic activities. They also conduct experience and education programs for residents more than twice a month, contributing to the development of local culture and arts through talent sharing.

Moreover, Songpa-gu plans to expand high-quality cultural and artistic spaces in the area by completing the remodeling of ‘Seoul Nori Madang,’ Seoul’s only traditional open-air theater, establishing an ‘Art Gallery’ at the east lake of Seokchon Lake next year, and remodeling the Songpa-gu Community Center into a cultural and arts center, thereby providing young artists with more diverse opportunities for activities.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “Thanks to the activities of young artists that can be easily accessed in daily life, vitality is spreading throughout the city, and the quality of life of residents is improving. We will continue to support so that the creativity, passion, and spirit of challenge possessed by young artists can blossom in Songpa-gu.”